Xu Changfeng looked pained: "I really can't bear to leave the army. I've spent more time in the army than at home with my mother! But now my mother is getting old and her health is deteriorating day by day. And my child has a job in the county town, and he'll probably get married and have children there in the future."
“Our whole family is in the Northwest. If something really happens to her, we’ll find out too late! So I was thinking, why don’t we transfer back to civilian life and go back there? Then the whole family can be reunited. Let my sons get to know this girl better and develop some feelings for her. That way, when I’m old and gone, there will be someone to support her, right?”
"Before, because of your sister-in-law, I had to leave that girl in our hometown. I already felt bad enough for her and my mother. We don't have many days left, so I have to make it up to her properly—"
After hearing these words, even the grown men's eyes reddened.
Who is not a son of man, who is not a father of man?
As soldiers, they naturally have to give more and owe more to their families because of the responsibilities they bear.
Feeling the same way, after a moment of silence, they wiped their eyes and began to comfort Xu Changfeng.
Only Lu Kai felt something was off about what he was hearing, as if something was amiss.
Although he drank the least, he couldn't hold his liquor, and his head slowly became dizzy, and he couldn't remember what was wrong.
The drinking session lasted until the moon was high in the sky.
Everyone was still smelling of alcohol, and we stumbled home, supporting each other.
Lu Kai escorted everyone to the courtyard gate. After they left, he was too exhausted to continue. He didn't have the energy to clean up the mess in the main room, so he collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) in the bedroom and lost consciousness.
The next day, news that Xu Changfeng also wanted to transfer to civilian work spread slightly within the military.
The leadership quickly received the news and even summoned Xu Changfeng for a talk, which confirmed the accuracy of the information.
When Xu Changfeng returned home and opened the door, before he could even step inside, a figure who had been waiting for half a day rushed out—it was Wu Hongqin.
Wu Hongqin was now almost forty years old, with a slightly plump figure. Her usual calm demeanor was now tinged with tension and a hint of fierceness, but one could still see some of the beauty she had possessed in her youth.
He rushed up to Xu Changfeng and asked, "I heard you're going to submit your demobilization application and go back to your hometown?"
Xu Changfeng nodded.
Wu Hongqin immediately became anxious, her voice rising to a high pitch, "Old Xu, what do you mean? You didn't even discuss such a big matter with me? You were doing well in the army, why are you suddenly transferring to civilian work? Did your mother say something again when you went back to your hometown this time?"
Xu Changfeng covered Wu Hongqin's mouth, pushed her into the house, closed the door, and scolded, "Keep your voice down, as if you're afraid others won't hear you? I have my reasons for wanting to transfer to civilian work, don't worry about it!"
Wu Hongqin pushed Xu Changfeng's hand away: "I don't care! You can't transfer to civilian work! Isn't it better for us to stay in the army? Besides, the children at home are still in school. They can join the army after they graduate. If we go back, how can we compare to the army?"
Xu Changfeng remained unmoved: "I've already submitted my application to the leadership and written my transfer report! I'm just waiting for their approval!"
Wu Hongqin was on the verge of a breakdown: "Why do you insist on changing careers? Did you do something wrong? Or did your superiors disapprove of your mission and give you a hard time? I'm going to talk to them—"
Xu Changfeng, exasperated, grabbed Wu Hongqin, who was about to rush out, and said with barely suppressed rage, "What do you know? Do you think I want to change careers? I had no other choice!"
Wu Hongqin looked bewildered: "What happened? What exactly happened?"
Xu Changfeng dragged Wu Hongqin back to the inner room, closed the door, and then began to explain in a low voice.
Before Xu Changfeng went on this mission, he overheard his superiors talking about a major move by the higher-ups. One of the moves was a possible large-scale troop reduction, which would mean that mid-level officers like Xu Changfeng, who had no room for advancement, would be advised to retire.
Secondly, the widows and orphans of some fallen comrades were living in dire straits, almost driven to death by their relatives and friends. In the end, they fought to the death, causing a major incident that reached the ears of the leadership.
The leaders decided to conduct a small-scale investigation into the living conditions of the widows and orphans left behind by the fallen comrades, as well as the orphanage allowances and the cases where the pensions had not reached the widows and orphans.
Upon hearing this, Wu Hongqin still stubbornly retorted, "What does this have to do with us? Have we done anything—"
He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
She looked at Xu Changfeng in horror.
Xu Changfeng glared at Wu Hongqin: "Over the years, I've kept the old company commander's instructions in mind. While I wouldn't say I'm completely obedient to you, I've done many things according to your wishes! You couldn't stand Daya, so to keep her out of your sight, I sent her back to our hometown. You were still not satisfied and insisted on throwing her out! I had no choice but to send Daya to be fostered by someone else! I didn't mention any of this, but you really think nothing of it?"
Wu Hongqin choked for a moment, but quickly recovered: "So what? Apart from not wanting to see her, I haven't done anything else, have I? You've been sending money back to your hometown every month all these years, do you think I don't know? Isn't it all for that jinx? What did I say? How have I mistreated her? Does the boss have to care about this too?"
Xu Changfeng glared at Wu Hongqin with exasperation: "What do you know? Have you forgotten how much compensation the old company commander received after his sacrifice? And how much orphan allowance Daya receives every month?"
Wu Hongqin's face turned pale, but she still argued, "I am his widow, what's wrong with me taking the pension?"
Xu Changfeng snorted coldly: "But Da Ya is the old company commander's only child. No matter what, she should get at least half of the compensation!"
Wu Hongqin suddenly realized something and her expression turned panicked: "She, she's in the countryside, in the army, how could the army possibly trace her back to the countryside?"
Xu Changfeng scoffed: "If you want to investigate, what do you think you can't find out?"
Seeing Wu Hongqin's flustered state, he scolded, "What's the panic?"
Wu Hongqin calmed down and nervously grabbed Xu Changfeng's hand: "Then, what do we do?"
Xu Changfeng calmly said, "That's why I said to apply for a demobilization and go back to our hometown before they find out about us. When you get back, apologize to Da Ya and make amends to her. She hasn't received any care from you since she was little. If you coax her, she'll probably be willing to be close to you. Besides, the boss and the others should get along well with Da Ya. Give her some compensation and get her on our side. I think everything will be fine then."
"As long as the parties involved don't speak up or pursue the matter, the military won't really take any major action!"
"So listen to me carefully! When you get back, treat Daya well! Do you hear me!"
Wu Hongqin was still indignant: "I'm her biological mother. Even if I don't give her a single penny, who can say anything? The military leaders can't be unreasonable, can they? If they really push me too far and I have a breakdown, does that mean they're in the right?"
"Shut up! Do you think no one saw through your little tricks? We're only letting it slide because of your man, me, and the sacrificed old company commander! If you keep playing dumb, do you believe I'll immediately demobilize and take the kids back to my hometown, leaving you all here alone?"
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